Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Goat (zodiac)
View on Wikipedia
| Goat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Goat" in regular Chinese characters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 羊 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

The Goat (Chinese: 羊; pinyin: yáng, sometimes also translated Sheep or Ram) is the eighth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. This zodiacal sign is often[1] referred to as the "Ram" or "Sheep" sign,[2] since the Chinese word yáng is more accurately translated as Caprinae, a taxonomic subfamily that includes both goats and sheep,[3] but contrasts with other animal subfamily types such as Bovinae, Antilopinae, and other taxonomic considerations which may be encountered in the case of the larger family of Bovidae in Chinese mythology, which also includes the Ox (zodiac). The Year of the Goat is associated with the 8th Earthly Branch symbol, 未 (wèi).[4]
Goat or Sheep
[edit]The Chinese word yáng refers to both goats and sheep,[5] whereas the terms shānyáng (山羊) and miányáng (绵羊; 綿羊) refer exclusively to goats and sheep, respectively.[6][7] In English, the sign (originally based on a horned animal) may be called either. The interpretation of goat or sheep depends on culture.[1] In Vietnamese, the sign is mùi, which is unambiguously goat.[8] In Japan, on the other hand, the sign is hitsuji, sheep;[8] while in Korea[9] and Mongolia, the sign is ram or sheep. Within China, there may be a regional distinction with the zodiacal yáng more likely to be thought of as a goat in the south, while tending to be thought of as a sheep in the north.[10]
Characteristics
[edit]The Chinese commonly regard sheep as an auspicious animal, and the year of the sheep, therefore, heralds a year of promise and prosperity.[6] "Yáng" (羊) is a component of another written Chinese character "xiang" (祥), which means auspiciousness, and the two were interchangeable in ancient Chinese, according to one source.[11] It is also a part of the character "shan" (善), which counts kindness and benevolence as among its meanings.
Individuals born in this zodiac year have been supposed to share certain characteristics with other individuals also born in years of the same animal sign. Similarly, years sharing the same animal sign have been supposed to share certain characteristics, repeating over their 12/60 year cycle. The shared characteristics in this case are traits attributed to goats.
Due to the lunisolar nature of the traditional Chinese calendar system,[12] the zodiacal year does not align with the Gregorian calendar: new years are determined by a system which results in each new year beginning on a new moon sometime between late January to mid-to-late February.[13] Goat aspects can also enter by other chronomantic factors or measures, such as hourly.
In Chinese astrology, Goats are described as peace-loving, kind, and popular.[14] With the addition of the Wood element, the Goat characteristic is thought to love peace and to be helpful and trusting, but yet also to be clinging and resistant to change.[15]
Years and the Five Elements
[edit]People born within these date ranges can be said to have been born in the "Year of the Goat", while also bearing the following elemental sign:
| Start date | End date | Heavenly branch |
|---|---|---|
| 13 February 1907 | 1 February 1908 | Fire Goat |
| 1 February 1919 | 19 February 1920 | Earth Goat |
| 17 February 1931 | 5 February 1932 | Metal Goat |
| 5 February 1943 | 24 January 1944 | Water Goat |
| 24 January 1955 | 11 February 1956 | Wood Goat |
| 9 February 1967 | 29 January 1968 | Fire Goat |
| 28 January 1979 | 15 February 1980 | Earth Goat |
| 15 February 1991 | 3 February 1992 | Metal Goat |
| 1 February 2003 | 21 January 2004 | Water Goat |
| 19 February 2015 | 7 February 2016 | Wood Goat |
| 6 February 2027 | 25 January 2028 | Fire Goat |
| 24 January 2039 | 11 February 2040 | Earth Goat |
| 11 February 2051 | 31 January 2052 | Metal Goat |
| 29 January 2063 | 16 February 2064 | Water Goat |
| 15 February 2075 | 4 February 2076 | Wood Goat |
| 3 February 2087 | 23 January 2088 | Fire Goat |
| 21 January 2099 | 8 February 2100 | Earth Goat |
Basic astrology elements
[edit]| Earthly Branches of Birth Year: | Wei |
| The Five Elements: | Earth |
| Yin Yang: | Yin |
| Lunar Month: | Sixth |
| Lucky Numbers: | 2, 3, 4, 7, 9; Avoid: 6, 8 |
| Lucky Flowers: | carnation, primrose |
| Lucky Colors: | green, red, purple; Avoid: gold, brown |
| Season: | Summer |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Wen Huang, "Year of the Sheep, Goat or Ram?" Chicago Tribune, January 31, 2003. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ Theodora Lau and Laura Lau, Chapter 8: "The Sheep: The Eighth Sign of the Lunar Cycle", The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes, pp. 193–220, Harper Collins, 1979 (paperback edition December 2010) ISBN 978-0061990915
- ^ A Lunar New Year With a Name That's a Matter of Opinion, Chris Buckley, New York Times, Feb. 18, 2015: "The reason is that the word for the eighth animal in the Chinese zodiac's 12-year cycle of creatures, yang in Mandarin, does not make the distinction found in English between goats and sheep and other members of the Caprinae subfamily. Without further qualifiers, yang might mean any such hoofed animal that eats grass and bleats."
- ^ "Chinese Zodiac – Sheep / Goat / Ram". Travel China Guide. TravelChinaGuide.com. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ^ Sagart, Laurent (1999). "25.5: Goats and Sheep". The Roots of Old Chinese. John Benjamins Publishing. pp. 194–195.
- ^ a b Celebrating The Lunar New Year Archived February 16, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, Dec. 20 2001; in earlier form here Archived 2015-02-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 Feb. 2015.
- ^ Ankita Varma, "Sheep muscle in on Year of the Goat", The Straits Times, Singapore, Jan 27, 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ a b 'Year of the Sheep' or 'Year of the Goat'?, CJV Lang. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ Erica Pearson, Lunar New Year celebrations to welcome year of 'any ruminant horned animal', New York Daily News, February 7, 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ Victor Mair quoted in Sonnad, Nikhil (19 February 2015). "Happy lunar new year! But is it the year of the sheep or something else?". Quartz. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ Fran Wang, "Big Yang Theory: Chinese year of the sheep or the goat?", AFP, Asia One News, Feb 16, 2015. Retrieved 19 Feb. 2015.
- ^ Space.com, Lunar New Year's Asian Barnyard Demystified (Video). Retrieved 23 Feb. 2015
- ^ Mark Swofford. "When Is Chinese New Year". pinyin.info. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ Hale, Gill, The Practical Encyclopedia of Feng Shui, New York: Barnes and Noble Books (2002). ISBN 0-7607-3741-X, p. 20
- ^ Hale, p. 244
Further reading
[edit]- Neil Somerville (2002). Your Chinese Horoscope for 2003. HarperCollins. p. 368. ISBN 9780007131495.
- Kassy Lee: The Year of the Untranslatable Animal
External links
[edit]
Media related to Goat (zodiac) at Wikimedia Commons
Goat (zodiac)
View on GrokipediaNomenclature and Overview
Alternative Names and Translations
In Chinese, the eighth animal of the zodiac is represented by the character 羊 (yáng), a term that historically encompasses both sheep and goats, as well as other ovines like rams, without strict distinction in classical usage.[4] This ambiguity arises from ancient Chinese linguistic and agricultural contexts, where yáng referred to domesticated herd animals valued for milk, meat, and wool.[5] In English translations, "Sheep" became the standard in early 20th-century Western sinology, reflecting a preference for the more familiar farm animal in European contexts, but "Goat" gained traction in modern adaptations, particularly for the 2015 zodiac year, to emphasize the original caprine connotations and avoid overlap with the Western ram symbol in Aries.[6] Variations in naming appear across East Asian cultures influenced by the zodiac system. In Vietnamese astrology, which adapts the Chinese model but substitutes certain animals, the eighth sign is explicitly "Dê" (goat), associated with the branch Mùi, reflecting regional fauna where goats are more symbolically prominent than sheep.[7] In Japanese, it is "Hitsuji" (sheep).[4] Conversely, in Tibetan astrology, which integrates Indian and Chinese elements into its 12-animal cycle, the sign corresponding to the Sheep/Goat is designated as "Lug" (sheep), aligning with pastoral traditions in the Tibetan plateau where sheep herding has long been central to nomadic life; note that ordering varies across Tibetan traditions.[8] Cultural preferences further shape these translations. Western popularizations often opt for "Goat" to provide distinctiveness from other zodiac interpretations and highlight traits like agility and independence, whereas traditional Chinese astrological texts maintain "Sheep" for its evocation of gentleness and conformity to Confucian ideals of harmony.[5] In traditional Chinese astrological literature, the sign is consistently rendered as 羊年 (Yáng Nián), interpreted variably as sheep or goat based on regional dialects, with no fixed preference until 19th-century European translations solidified "Sheep."[6]Position and Role in the Zodiac
In the traditional Chinese zodiac, the Goat—also referred to as the Sheep—holds the eighth position among the twelve animals, following the Horse and preceding the Monkey in the annual cycle that includes the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.[9][10] This ordering forms the foundation of the zodiac's rotational structure, where each animal governs a specific year in sequence.[2] The Chinese zodiac emerged from ancient Chinese astronomical observations and calendrical systems, with its formal identification and widespread use established during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE).[2][11] These origins tied the zodiac to the tracking of celestial movements and lunar phases, providing a framework for dividing time into repeating twelve-year periods without reliance on mythological narratives.[12] Within the zodiac's narrative, the Goat embodies themes of peace, harmony, and creativity, contributing to the cycle's representation of balanced natural and human qualities.[13][14] This symbolic role underscores the Goat's function as a mediator of serene and artistic energies amid the zodiac's diverse animal archetypes.[15] The zodiac integrates closely with the Chinese lunar calendar, where the animal sign corresponding to an individual's birth year—calculated from the lunar New Year—serves as the primary determinant for astrological attributes and life influences.[16][17] This alignment ensures that zodiac assignments reflect the cyclical nature of the lunar year, spanning approximately 354 days and adjusted periodically for solar synchronization.[18]Astrological Attributes
Elemental and Yin-Yang Associations
In Chinese astrology, the Goat is classified as a yin sign within the duodenary cycle of the zodiac, embodying qualities of receptivity, introspection, and a grounded earthiness that contrasts with the more assertive yang energies of preceding signs.[19] This yin polarity fosters a harmonious, nurturing disposition, emphasizing passive adaptation and inner reflection over outward dominance.[20] The Goat's core association is with the Earth element in the Wu Xing system, symbolizing stability, fertility, and nourishment, which underpins its fixed traits of reliability and empathy.[19] However, the cyclical integration of the five elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—modifies the Goat's expression across the 60-year stem-branch cycle, infusing it with nuanced variations; for instance, the Wood Goat accentuates themes of growth and creativity, promoting adaptability and artistic pursuits, while the Fire Goat introduces passion and vitality, enhancing expressiveness and social warmth.[21] These elemental overlays do not alter the foundational yin Earth nature but layer additional dynamics, such as the Metal Goat's precision and resilience or the Water Goat's fluidity and intuition, allowing for diverse manifestations within the sign.[22] Directionally, the Goat corresponds to the southwest, a position linked to maternal energies and late-summer transitions in the cosmological compass.[23] Seasonally, it aligns with the end of summer, evoking a period of maturation and harvest before the shift to autumn.[24] The sign also governs the hour from 1 to 3 PM, a time associated with peak afternoon repose and creative contemplation.[25] Traditional associations include green as the primary color, representing vitality and harmony with the Earth's nurturing aspect, alongside lucky numbers 2 and 7, which symbolize balance and spiritual insight in numerological interpretations.[26]Personality Traits and Compatibility
Individuals born under the Goat zodiac sign in Chinese astrology are typically characterized by their gentle, compassionate, and artistic nature, with a profound empathy that drives them to prioritize others' well-being often at their own expense.[21] They exhibit strong creativity and a calm demeanor, making them peacemakers in social settings, though this sensitivity can lead to indecisiveness and a perceived lack of resilience in facing adversity.[26] These traits stem from cultural interpretations of the Goat as a symbol of tranquility and harmony, fostering individuals who are honest, kind, and aesthetically inclined but sometimes overly passive or pessimistic.[20] Traditional perspectives differentiate Goat traits by gender, portraying males as nurturing providers who excel in creating stable, harmonious family environments through their thoughtful and supportive approach.[27] Female Goats, in contrast, are viewed as deeply sensitive and intuitive homemakers, channeling their empathy into caring roles that emphasize emotional depth and domestic tranquility.[28] These gender-based characterizations reflect historical Chinese societal roles but are increasingly seen as archetypal rather than prescriptive in modern contexts. In terms of compatibility, Goats form the most harmonious relationships with Rabbit and Pig signs, where mutual understanding and shared values of gentleness and loyalty create supportive partnerships free from conflict.[21] Matches with Horse can also be positive, offering balance through the Horse's energy complementing the Goat's calm creativity. Conversely, pairings with Ox and Rat often encounter challenges due to clashing temperaments—the Ox's stubbornness conflicting with the Goat's flexibility, and the Rat's assertiveness overwhelming the Goat's reticence—leading to frequent misunderstandings rooted in elemental oppositions.[20] Compatibility with Dog may be strained by differing priorities, though effort can mitigate tensions. Goats thrive in careers that allow expression of their artistic talents and empathetic qualities, such as fields in the arts, design, music, or counseling, where their innovative ideas and ability to connect emotionally contribute to success.[26] They may struggle in high-pressure, competitive environments that demand assertiveness, preferring collaborative settings that value harmony over confrontation. Health-wise, Goats are prone to stress-related ailments like anxiety or digestive issues, stemming from their tendency to internalize emotions and avoid confrontation; regular relaxation practices are recommended to maintain well-being.[21] From a modern psychological lens, the Goat's core traits of compassion and creativity loosely align with elevated agreeableness and openness to experience in the Big Five personality model, as these dimensions capture interpersonal sensitivity and imaginative tendencies observed in cultural stereotypes of the sign.[29] For instance, the Fire Goat variant tends to be more outgoing and passionate compared to other elemental types, enhancing extraversion-like qualities.[20]Chronological Cycle
The 60-Year Cycle and Five Elements
The Chinese zodiac's 60-year cycle, known as the sexagenary cycle or gānzhī system, integrates the 12 earthly branches—representing the zodiac animals, with the Goat as the eighth (Wei)—and the 10 heavenly stems, which correspond to the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) each expressed in yin and yang forms. This pairing yields 60 distinct combinations, as the stems cycle every 10 years while the branches repeat every 12, creating a least common multiple of 60 years for full repetition.[30][31] For the Goat sign, the elemental associations follow a repeating sequence of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water across its occurrences every 12 years, with each full set completing once per 60-year cycle; this sequence aligns with the heavenly stems' progression, where the Goat's yin nature pairs with the yin expressions of each element.[32] To calculate an individual's Goat-related element, examine the last digit of the birth year: 4 or 5 indicates Wood, 6 or 7 Fire, 8 or 9 Earth, 0 or 1 Metal, and 2 or 3 Water, though precise stem-branch assignment requires modulo 60 computation from a reference year like 1984 (Jia-Zi).[33][34] The sexagenary cycle originated from Shang Dynasty oracle bone inscriptions around 1600–1046 BCE for day reckoning, but its application to years became standardized during the Western Han Dynasty (202 BCE–9 CE) for administrative and calendrical purposes, as seen in reforms like the Taichu calendar of 104 BCE, which aligned solar-lunar cycles without resetting the ongoing stem-branch sequence.[35][36] Subsequent dynasties, such as the Eastern Han, maintained continuity, though occasional calendar adjustments refined seasonal alignments without altering the perpetual 60-year loop.[31] The next Goat year, commencing February 6, 2027, will be the Fire Goat, marking a yin Fire variant in the ongoing cycle.[37]List of Goat Years and Associated Elements
The Goat years in the Chinese zodiac recur every 12 years, with each assigned one of the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) according to the 60-year sexagenary cycle. These years are determined by the Chinese lunar calendar, where the zodiac sign begins on the date of Chinese New Year (typically between January 21 and February 20 in the Gregorian calendar), requiring adjustments for precise Gregorian equivalents.[20] The following table lists Goat years from 1907 to 2027, including their elemental associations. For births near the year boundary, verify the exact Chinese New Year date to confirm the zodiac sign.| Year | Element | Approximate Start Date (Gregorian) |
|---|---|---|
| 1907 | Fire | February 13, 1907 |
| 1919 | Earth | February 1, 1919 |
| 1931 | Metal | February 17, 1931 |
| 1943 | Water | February 5, 1943 |
| 1955 | Wood | January 24, 1955 |
| 1967 | Fire | February 9, 1967 |
| 1979 | Earth | January 28, 1979 |
| 1991 | Metal | February 15, 1991 |
| 2003 | Water | February 1, 2003 |
| 2015 | Wood | February 19, 2015 |
| 2027 | Fire | February 6, 2027 |